xp_logs | [Alex, Scott -The Next Morning]

After the events of last night Alex wakes up from his first nightmare free sleep in a long time next to his big brother. He tells Scott his 'dirty' secret and Scott comforts him before suggesting a day of brother time, just the two of them. It's pure angst/cute of the variety that only the Summers boys can produce.

So he hadn't gotten much sleep last night. That was perfectly all right, Scott told himself as he leaned back against the headboard of the bed, leafing idly through a magazine, stopping every minute or so to glance down at Alex, curled up under the blankets beside him. Alex had slept, and that wasn’t the important thing.

Alex yawned and stretched abit before opening his eyes. Last night had been nightmare free and had been the best night's sleep he'd had in a long time. He grinned as he hugged his pillow under him and smiled sleepily up at Scott. "Morning..."

"Morning," Scott said with an answering smile, reaching out and laying a hand on Alex's shoulder for a moment, squeezing gently. It was good to see him awake and smiling, after he'd had to more or less carry him to bed last night. "So," he went on lightly as his brother peered up at him. "You know, just because your older brother is a workaholic and has been elbow deep in jet guts for the last few days doesn't mean he won't kick your ass for being overly polite and not wanting to worry him."

"It's not that, honest...It's just...It's something I didn't really want to talk about...to anyone. Lorna kind of forced it out and look where that got us..." Alex sighed sadly then shook his head. "That you might want to kick my ass after what I'm about to tell you, but Paul's right...you need to know..." He sat up, still hugging the pillow to his chest.

"Alex," Scott said more softly, shifting over and sliding an arm around his shoulders, pulling him closer. "I'm not about to kick your ass. For anything. That was my admittedly-pitiful attempt at a joke." He sighed, pulling back a little, just enough to be able to look Alex in the eyes. "If you have something you want to tell me, I'm listening."

Alex took a deep breath and looked up at his brother. "I know, just...I’ve been holding this in for more then half a year...it's still kind of new to me to be telling people now..." He sighed and looked down, to gather his courage. "Remember the Black Queen and well, what she did to me?"

"How could I forget?" Scott said quietly, keeping his voice, his expression utterly steady.

"Well...I never told you the whole story and I've been having nightmares ever since, thus why I haven't been sleeping very well lately and they were the cause of my argument with Lorna..." Alex swallowed and hugged the pillow tighter. "The dreams...they are about when she would drain my powers...and the process included..." He paused to lick his lips. "sex. Sometimes gentle, but most of the time...it was horrible." Alex turned to look up at Scott, tears in the corner of his eyes. "I was ashamed to tell anyone...till now, and it's still...difficult."

It was like someone had closed their hand around his heart and squeezed, hard. Staring at Alex, Scott took a shaky breath, trying to find words. Had to find words. Alex looked terrified of his reaction.

He shifted, taking Alex's face between his hands, tilting his face upwards gently. "I'm really glad you told me," he said, his voice breaking. "Really glad. I can't imagine how hard it must have been." Slowly, tentatively, giving Alex plenty of chance to move away if that was what he wanted, Scott leaned in to hug him.

There was no way Alex was going to refuse Scott's touch. He'd been so afraid of being pushed away like Lorna had done, that he just completely melted into Scott's arms, the pillow totally forgotten in his lap. He was content to sit there for as long as Scott would let him, feeling safe in the arms of his big brother, safe to cry away the months he'd been holding his secret in.

"I'm so sorry," Scott murmured, holding him tightly. He rubbed Alex's back gently, hoping to soothe him as he cried. "I'm so sorry this happened, I'm so sorry you had to hold it all in for this long... but you're talking about it now. That's what's important." He took another shaky breath. "I love you," he whispered, his voice cracking again. "I love you, and it's going to be okay..."

Scott's comforting did it's job and Alex was finally able to look up at him, crying having dissolved to slight hiccups. "Scott I...I love you too...I didn't mean to hold it in...I was just so scared what you would think, then the fight with Lorna only made it worse and...." He hugged his brother again. "I love you."

Scott wanted very badly to ask Alex if this was what he and Lorna had fought about, but this needed to stay about Alex and what he needed. Not his big brother's desire to kick his girlfriend's ass, if that was really the case. "There is nothing you could ever tell me that would make me push you away," he told Alex, his voice low but firm. "Or make me love you any less. Nothing."

And that only made Alex cling to Scott tighter, "Thank you...I needed to hear that so badly.....Thank you."

Scott closed his eyes, trying to push away the anger - at Selene and at Lorna - and the pain, to focus on Alex and nothing else. "Hey," he said, managing a half-hearted laugh. "What are big brothers for? We're supposed to be omniscient, don't you know..." He was silent for a long few minutes, just holding Alex. "What do you want to do?" he asked softly. "I think... I really think you should talk to Doctor Samson about this. But if you're not ready to tell anyone else..."

Alex nodded at what Scott said. "Yeah...I probably should...it's getting easier, especially now that I've told you." he leaned a bit more into Scott for a moment to stress the point. "I'm ready now I think...but don't be surprised if I ask you or Paul to come with me. I'm not sure I could do it alone..."

"I will come with you anytime you want," Scott said, his voice a little unsteady again. "Anytime, anywhere. All you have to do is ask."

Sensing the unsteadiness in Scott's voice, Alex leaned his head on Scott's shoulder. "I know...Thank you."

Scott took another deep breath. "I think," he said, a little more normally, "that we should do a whole lot of nothing today, though." He smiled very hesitantly down at the blond head resting on his shoulder. "Or maybe something away from the mansion? It is Labor Day, after all..."

Alex looked up at, more excited about the idea then he normally would. "Really? That would be awesome...We need to catch up on some brotherly time...And away from the mansion would be ideal." He was feeling content and happy at the moment...feelings he know would vanish the minute he saw Lorna.

"Definitely out of the mansion," Scott said firmly. "You and me, the rest of the day. We can decide where we're going when we're on the road." Everything else would just have to wait.

Alex hugged Scott one last time before jumping back and out of the bed, a large grin on his face. He was not going to think about his troubles anymore...just on having fun with his brother. "Then what are we waiting for? Let's go!"

Scott watched him go, a real smile tugging at his lips. "You grab a shower and a change," he suggested. "I've got to drop a couple of emails to people."

Alex nodded as he picked up his shoes and skateboard from the floor. He was grinning as he went out the door, but the moment he was in the hallway, he stuck his head back in the door. "I love you big brother..."

"Love you too," Scott said, quietly but warmly. "Now get going. I'd hate to have to throw you over my shoulder and cart you out of here."

"Alright alright! I'll see you in a few!" He was so giddy, he ignored any wrath he would get from Cain and rode his skateboard down the hall. Nothing could ruin his good mood.